We have another excellent 2023 Riesling from Alzinger today. We always consider Alzinger right at the top of Austrian wines alongside the other big names - Nikolaihof, Pichler, Prager, etc. and with early reports showing how phenomenal the 2023 vintage is going to be, it's going to be a knockout year for Alzinger. The harmony, depth, and mineral character of both their Riesling is pitch perfect with amazing soil transparency, variety typicity, and everything you could want out of these wines. The weather was turbulent in 2023, with some dry and hot spells throughout the year, but the warmer vintages in Austria always draw more attention from critics, and this vintage is going to be complemented by some fantastic acidity and expression. Hoherek is one of the top wiens from Alzinjger and comes from a mountain ridge between Kellerberg and Loinbenberg. The very thin topsoil here lies on top of stony Gneiss, allowing for excellent drainage, and is easily warmed in spring while also getting cooling winds from the northwest during the warmer months. The conditions here make it one of the most prized sites in the Alzinger line up with 2023 being the top example made here in many years. Ultra-pure stone fruits, saline, with a cool mineral profile and juicy yet tightly knit on the palate with explosive acidity and length. It's a knockout this vintage and one of the highlights of the year from Alzinger.
Vinous (Anne Krebiehl MW) 96 pts! "The 2023 Riesling Höhereck Smaragd is grown in the orthogneiss of this steep yet sheltered site. Herbal intensity joins the citrus. Here, intense lemon balm, totally scented, takes over on the nose. The palate is slender and has a grounding undertone of wet stone, still with a yeasty vibe, but the body is essentially slender, pure, bright and elongated, with brightness and tension. Bravo. The finish is a pure note of tangerine. Just 700 bottles are made of this little treasure. (Bone-dry) (Drink between 2028 - 2053)"
2023 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Hohereck
2023 Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Hohereck
We have another excellent 2023 Riesling from Alzinger today. We always consider Alzinger right at the top of Austrian wines alongside the other big names - Nikolaihof, Pichler, Prager, etc. and with early reports showing how phenomenal the 2023 vintage is going to be, it's going to be a knockout year for Alzinger. The harmony, depth, and mineral character of both their Riesling is pitch perfect with amazing soil transparency, variety typicity, and everything you could want out of these wines. The weather was turbulent in 2023, with some dry and hot spells throughout the year, but the warmer vintages in Austria always draw more attention from critics, and this vintage is going to be complemented by some fantastic acidity and expression. Hoherek is one of the top wiens from Alzinjger and comes from a mountain ridge between Kellerberg and Loinbenberg. The very thin topsoil here lies on top of stony Gneiss, allowing for excellent drainage, and is easily warmed in spring while also getting cooling winds from the northwest during the warmer months. The conditions here make it one of the most prized sites in the Alzinger line up with 2023 being the top example made here in many years. Ultra-pure stone fruits, saline, with a cool mineral profile and juicy yet tightly knit on the palate with explosive acidity and length. It's a knockout this vintage and one of the highlights of the year from Alzinger.
Vinous (Anne Krebiehl MW) 96 pts! "The 2023 Riesling Höhereck Smaragd is grown in the orthogneiss of this steep yet sheltered site. Herbal intensity joins the citrus. Here, intense lemon balm, totally scented, takes over on the nose. The palate is slender and has a grounding undertone of wet stone, still with a yeasty vibe, but the body is essentially slender, pure, bright and elongated, with brightness and tension. Bravo. The finish is a pure note of tangerine. Just 700 bottles are made of this little treasure. (Bone-dry) (Drink between 2028 - 2053)"
